Actions

Work Header

A little character study/essay about Jiang Cheng

Summary:

A short character study about Jiang Cheng. In my opinion, Jiang Cheng is a little misunderstood in this fandom and he doesn't deserve all the hate that he is getting.

Notes:

Be aware that this is by no means perfect and is just my opinion about Jiang Cheng. Can there be things in in that are not completely right? Yes, but I don't care.

(See the end of the work for more notes.)

Work Text:

Jiang Cheng is one of the more complex characters of the series. The way he is written is difficult to describe, but he definitely deserves better in the storyline.

He has his own reasons for doing the things that he did and I think a lot of people don't realise how difficult he really had it.
For example, how would you feel if you suddenly had to live with an orphan you don't know anything about, except that your parents knew his parents? The sad thing is that Jiang Fengmian immediately dotes on Wei Wuxian when he came to Lotus Pier, but has always been distant to Jiang Cheng and has held him fewer than five times in his whole childhood.
Now, I am not saying that all his actions towards Wei Wuxian are completely justified, but I do understand where he comes from and why he resents him at times. I also think that Jiang Fengmian actually is a big player in the way that Jiang Cheng acts in his later teenage years and after the resurrection of Wei Wuxian.

Having your beloved puppies sent away, because of one person, is a strong recipe for a life of resentment. Deep down, that feeling and memory never completely leaves and you will always hold that other person a little accountable, even if you forgave him eventually.

Everyone has their own ship, but mine will always be Jiang Cheng and Lan Xichen. There is just something about them together that heals something in me and makes them an almost perfect pair. It is a little difficult to explain, but to me Lan Xichen is the perfect calm to the storm that is Jiang Cheng. The only one fully able to calm him down if he is at the point of losing his complete cool.
Can you imagine Jiang Cheng fuming at somebody again and Lan Xichen just standing there with a completely calm face and holding him just enough that it grounds Jiang Cheng.
I do think that their relationship will be difficult to manage, as they are both sect leaders, but I trust that they will find a way to make it work in their favour.

Fin.

Notes:

I am always open to discussions and suggestions.